Slide fastener



Aug. 15, 1933. R H, NlcHoLSON 1,922,257

SLIDE FASTENER Filed Nov. 15, 1929 sneets-sneet l ug- 15, 1933- R. H, NICHOLSON 1,922,257

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' @tty Patented Aug. 15, 1933 SLIDE FASTENER Robert H. Nicholson, Meadville, Pa., assignor to Hookless Fastener Company, a Corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 15, 1929 Serial No. 407,401

claims. (ci. 24-205) My invention relates to slide fasteners and particularly to means for locking the slider to prevent unintended opening of the fastener.

It is an object of my invention to provide an 5 improved locking slider in which the pull is pivoted to one wing of the slider adjacent the wing connecting portion at the rear end but not shiftable longitudinally, and in which a locking lug is provided to engage the fastener elements near the axis of pivoting.

Several types of slider locks have been devised heretofore some of which have come into commercial use. One type which has been used to some extent had a pull member shiftable along a track- Way longitudinally of the slider which member had a locking lug adapted to project through an opening in the wing of the slider to engage the fastener elements. In this type, the locking recess was located toward the front end ofv the slider.

Another type of lock slider which is being used to a large extent employs a pull device pivoted to the slider near its front end and also having a locking lug to project through one wing of the slider into engagement with the fastener elements. The pull device is not shiftable longitudinally and in some particular uses of the fastener, it is very liable `to be subjected to a heavy pull when put into the hands of the public. This is especially 3o true in such articles as rubber overshoes where the fastener must frequently be closed under considerable strain. With the pull device -pivoted near the front end of the slider at a considerable distance from the point where the slider wings are connected, an extremely heavy DLH will occasionally spread the wings of the slider. When the wings are spread a slight amount the fastener elements will slip through the slider and render the fastener inoperative.

My invention aims to combine some of the most desirable characteristics in both of the above mentioned types of sliders and at the same time, produce a locking slider which utilizes all, the ad vantageous points of construction found in pres ent day sliders.

From another aspect, my invention aims to provide a slide locking device having a locking lug which engages between a U-shaped member clamped to the Stringer at a plurality of points. By having a locking device which engages with such a member the liability of the locking device to displace the fastener elements on the stringer, is practically eliminated.

It is4 another object of my invention to provide a slider with a locking device capable of' engaging' a recess in a stop member at the end of one of the rows of fastener elements. The top stop usually has a large clamping surface to engage the stringer and in my preferred embodiment the top stop comprises a U-shaped member clamped to the Stringer at opposite sides and the locking 'device may be conveniently arranged to engage between the sides of this U-shaped member.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear during the course of the following specication.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown for purposes of illustration `one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan or face view of avslide fastener embodying my invention showing the slider locking device engaged in one of the stop members.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the fastener partly opened with the slider locking device engaged between fastener elements.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the pull member used in my invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a slider constructed according to my invention with the pull device detached.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through a fas-` tener equipped with my improved slider on the line of the locking lug, showing the pull member in slider actuating position.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing the pull member in locking position.

Fig. '7 is a transverse section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view with parts in section showing the locking lug engaged between two fastener elements.

Fig` 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the locking lug engaged in one of the stop members.

The fastener with which I have shown my invention incorporated comprises two flexible stringers 11 and 12, Vrows of cooperating fastener elements 13 and 14 secured to the adjacent edges of said stringere and a slider, generally designated 15, movable along said stringers to engage and disengage the fastener elements. Each of the stringers preferably comprises a tape of woven or braided fabric for attaching the fastener to the article to be fastened and these tapes are prom vided with adjacent beaded edges i6 and I7. As best shown in Fig.I "i, each. of these edges is made up by attaching a twisted cord on each. side of the tape. The construction of the fastener ele-1A ments will not be described in detail since it is Weil known inthe art and reference may be had At one end of the fastener stringers closely ad. jacent the fastener elements are attached U-` shaped stop members 19 and 20 each of which has its opposite sides 21 and 22 clamped to the corded edge of one of the stringers. A recess is thus formed between the opposite sides of the stop member which is adapted to receive the locking lug of my improved locking slider as will be presently described.

The slider comprises a pair of overlying spaced wings 23 and 24 integrally connected at the rear end by a portion 25 which also acts as a Wedge to separate the fastener elements but the wings are not connected at any other point. Each of the slider wings is turned up at the opposite sides to form guide flanges 26 which cooperate with the ends of the fastener elements during movement of the slider to guide the stringers into the slider. It will be noted that the slider is wider at its rear end than at its front end and between the wings there is provided a Y-shaped channel having di- Verging branches 27 and 28 at the rear end and converging into a single branch at the front end. The integral connecting portion 25 has internal wedging surfaces 29 and 30 which separate the diverging branches of the slider channel and serve to spread the fastener elements apart as well illustrated in Fig. 8. It will be noted that each of the slider wings is reinforced by a central boss 31 extending from the wing connecting portion 25 well into the channels.

0n the longitudinal center line of the slider and preferably as close to the rear end as it is possible to form it and substantially directly over the wing connecting and stiffening means, there is an upwardly projecting boss 32 indented on opposite sides as indicated at 33 and 34 and to this boss is pivotally connected the pull member 35. The wide end of the slider is considered as the rear end. The connection is made by a pair of trunnions 36 and 37 extending inwardly into the recesses 33 and 34 respectively.v The pull member preferably comprises a plate which may be stamped from sheet metal and has, at its end which is connected to the slider, a lug 38 bent out of the plane of the pull member so as to project at substantially a right angle therefrom. It will be noted that this locking lug is very closely adjacent the axis of pivoting of the pull member which has been found to be a decided advantage in actual practice. The lock stays in position much better and more leverage is provided for operating the same when it is thus disposed adjacent the pivot point. By stating that the locking lug is closely adjacent the pivot axis, it is meant to include only constructions where the lug is substantially in alinement with the pivot although it may be offset a slight amount as in the illustration. If a lug for example, were to the left of the opening in the slider as viewed in Fig. 6, it would be too far away to be considered closely adjacent. This locking lug is adapted to enter a recess or aperture 39 formed in the top wing of the slider laterally offset from the boss 32, and it will be noted that the length of this aperture need be only slightly greater than the `length of the locking lug because the pull member is not shiftable to any great extent longitudinally of the slider.

The operation .of my improved locking device will be readily understood in view of the above description. The slider is operated along the stringers. When in closed position the stop members 19 and 20 in the illustrated embodiment are adapted to enter the channel of the slider. Now when it is desired to lock the slider in any adjusted position along the stringers for example as shown in Fig. 2, the operator simply releases the pull and allows it to fall by gravity or pushes it down againstthe slidery as shown in Fig. 6 and the locking lug 23 enters between two adjacent fastener elements on the Stringer 12. The slider is thus held against movement as long as the pull is in this position. If it is desired to lock the fastener in completely closed condition as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 9, the slider is pulled to the limit of its travel and the pull member is released and either falls down against the slider or is pushed down so that the locking lug enters into the recess between the sides of the U-shaped stop member 20. With the slider locked in this position there is no tendency whatever 'for any of the interlocking elements to be displaced and there is very little likelihood of the stop member being displaced because it is attached at two points.

With the pull member attached to the top wings of the slider in the position illustrated, there will be very little tendency for the wings of the slider to be spread apart even though a very strong pull is exerted on the pull member 35. This is due to the fact that the stress comes at a point where the wings are connected securely by the integral portion 25.

My invention provides a suitable slider lock, operated by the pull which may lock by engagement with the top stop or at any point along the stringers by engagement with the fastener elements.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume `in practice, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purposes of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a slide fastener, a pair of fastener stringers having rows of cooperating fastener elements thereon, a slider movable along said stringers to control said fastener elements, said slider comprising a pair of spaced Wings positioned on opposite sides of said stringers, integral connecting and stiifening means for said Wings at one end thereof, said means being the sole connecting means for said wings, a pull member pivotally 'attached to said slider at such end closely adjacent said wing connecting means, the pivot axis of the pull being relatively fixed, a recess in the slider wing closely adjacent the pivot of said pull member, and a lug on said pull member movable through said recess into direct engagement with the fastener elements on one of said fastener stringers to lock the slider.

2. In 'a slide fastener, a pair of fastener stringers having rows of cooperating fastener elements secured thereto, a slider movable along said stringers to engage and disengage said fastener elements, said slider comprising overlying spaced wings, integral connecting and stiifenlng means at one end of the slider, a pull member pivotally attached to the top wing of said slider directly over said integral connecting means and held against substantial relative longitudinal movement, and a locking lug on said pull member closely adjacent the integral wing connection in one position of the pull passing through one of said 'wings to lock the slider.

3. In a slide fastener, a pair of fastener stringers having rows of cooperating fastener elements secured thereto, a slider movable along said stringers to control said fastener elements, said slider comprising overlying spaced wings an integral wing connecting and stiiening portion located centrally at the rear end of the slider such portion being the sole wing connecting means, an integral boss projecting upwardly from the top wing of the slider in substantially longitudinal and transverse alignment with said wing connecting portion, a pull member pivotally attached to said boss and having a projecting lug disposed .laterally of the boss and passing through one of said wings to lock the slider.

4. In a slide fastener, a pair of fastener stringers having cooperating fastening means thereon, a slider movable along said stringers to engage said fastening means, astop member on one of said stringers for limiting the movement of said slider, said stop member having a recess therein, and locking means carried by the slider having a projection smaller than said recess and in proper location to enter said recess to lock the slider.

5. In a slide fastener, a pair of fastener stringers having a member having two pairs of jaws engaging the Stringer at spaced points, a slider mounted on said stringers, a member pivoted to said slider, and a locking lug carried by said pivoted member of such size and in proper location to be movable into engagement with said rst mentioned member between said pairs of jaws to lock the slider against movement.

6. In a slide fastener, a pair of fastener stringers, a slider movable along said stringers, a U- shaped member clamped to one of said stringers at both sides thereof, and a member pivoted to said slider having a locking lug of such size and in proper location to enter between the sides of said ttl-shaped member to lock the slider.

7. In a slide fastener, a pair of fastener stringers having rows of cooperating fastener` elements mounted thereon, a U-shaped stop member carried by one stringer at one end of one of said rows of fastener elements, a slider movable along said stringers to control said fastener elements, and a member pivoted to said slider and having a locking lug of such size and in proper location to be movable into the space between the sides of said U-shaped member to lock the slider.

8. In a slide fastener, a pair of fastener stringers having rows of spaced fastener elements thereon, a slider movable along said stringers to control said fastener elements, a stop member at one end of said stringers having a recess therein, and a member pivoted to said slider having a locking lug of such size and location as to be movable into engagement with either a wall of said recess or with one of the fastener elements to lock the slider at any point in its travel.

9. In a slide fastener, a pair of fastener stringers having rows of cooperating fastener elements thereon, a slider movable along said stringers to control said fastener elements said slider having at its rear end diverging channels to receive said stringers, a pair of recessed stop members adapted to enter the said diverging channels, and a member pivoted to said slider having a locking lug of such size and in proper location to enter one of said channels to lock in the recess of one of said stop members.

l0. In a slide fastener, a pair of stringers having rows of cooperating fastener elements thereon, a slider having overlying wings movable along said stringers to engage and disengage said fastener elements, integral wing connecting and stiffening means at one end of the slider, an integral boss projecting upwardly from one wing of said slider directly over said wing connecting and stiffening means, and a pull pivotally connected to said boss and having a projecting lug laterally offset from the center line of said slider and movable through an opening in one slider wing into engagement with the fastener elements on one of said fastener stringers.

ROBERT H. NICHOLSON. 

